Effects of temperature and various metal ions on the solubility of tobacco RuDP carboxylase

Tobacco RuDP carboxylase is completely soluble in 0.07 M NaClor 0.01 M Na₂SO₂, but is almost completely insoluble in salt-freesolutions at 40°C; the solubility seeming to depend on ionicstrength. Lowering the temperature increased solubility of theprotein. The solubility in 0.01–0.04 M NaCl at 0°Cwas more than double that at 40°C. RuDP solubilized theprotein even in a salt-free medium. The protein became insolubleagain on the addition of various divalent cations. Effectivenessof the metal ions was Zn⁺⁺> Ni⁺⁺>Co⁺⁺>Mn⁺⁺>Mg⁺⁺>Ca⁺⁺.Although most of the metal ions inhibited (Mg⁺⁺ activated) enzymeactivity, no direct correlation was found between the degreeof solubility depression and the degree of enzyme inhibition. (Received October 4, 1971; )     

Further studies on ribulose-l,5-diphosphate carboxylase from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides and Rhodospirillum rubrum

Some enzymic properties of RuDP carboxylase isolated from Rhodopseudomonasspheroides and Rhodospirillum rubrum, grown under autotrophic,semi-autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions were studied.Regardless of the growing condition, the nature of the enzymefrom each respective bacterium remained unchanged. The molecularweight of R. spheroides and R. rubrum RuDP carboxylase was estimatedto be approximately 2.4x10⁵ and 8.3x10⁴, respectively. Bothenzymes require Mg⁺⁺. Their kinetic properties were also examined. ¹Part XII. Structure and Function of Chloroplast Proteins ²Supported in part by research grants from the Ministry of Educationof Japan (No. 8719), USPHS (AM. 10792-03) and the Asahi Press(Tokyo) (Received March 18, 1970; )     

Ribulose-1,5-Diphosphate Carboxylase Protein during Flag Leaf Senescence

Ribulose-l,5-diphosphate (RuDP) carboxylase protein and activitywere determined in relation to net photosynthetic rate duringthe senescence of intact flag leaves of wheat on the plant.Initially the decrease in RuDP carboxylase activity was greaterthan the decline in net photosynthesis. The major decrease inRuDP carboxylase activity over this period resulted from a decreasein enzyme specific activity from 11 to 2 µmol CO₂ fixedh^–1 mg^–1 protein. Loss of RuDP carboxylase proteindid not occur until late in senescence by which time chlorophyllconcentration had decreased by more than 50%. Treatment of flagleaves at weekly intervals with either 1000 parts 10^–62-chloro-ethyltrimethylammonium chloride or 100 parts 10^–6gibberellic acid with 1 part 10^–6 kinetin did not significantlyaffect net photosynthetic rate, RuDP carboxylase protein oractivity during senescence.     

Distribution of enzymes related to C3 and C4 pathway of photosynthesis between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells of Panicum hians and Panicum milioides

Enzymes of the C₄, C₃ pathway and photorespiration have beenanalyzed for P. hians and P. milioides, which have chlorenchymatousbundle sheath cells in the leaves. On whole leaf extracts thelevels of PEP carboxylase are relatively low compared to C₄species, RuDP carboxylase is typical of C₃ species, and enzymesof photorespiratory metabolism appear somewhat intermediatebetween C₃ and C₄. Substantial levels of PEP carboxylase, RuDPcarboxylase, and photorespiratory enzymes were found in bothmesophyll and bundle sheath cells. Low levels of C₄-acid decarboxylatingenzymes may limit the capacity for C₄ photosynthesis in P. hiansand P. milioides. The results on enzyme activity and distributionbetween mesophyll and bundle sheath cells are consistent withCO₂ fixation via C₃ pathway in these two species. ¹ This research was supported by the College of Agriculturaland Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison; and bythe University of Wisconsin Research Committee with funds fromthe Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; and by the NationalScience Foundation Grant BMS 74-09611. (Received September 16, 1975; )     

Photosynthetic efficiency of Panicum hians and Panicum milioides in relation to C3 and C4 plants

Panicum hians and Panicum milioides were found to have characteristicsintermediate to those of C₃ and C₄ species with respect to CO₂compensation point, percentage inhibition of photosynthesisby O₂ at various O₂/CO₂ solubility ratios, and water use efficiency.C₄ species have a higher carboxylation efficiency than eitherthe intermediate or C₃ species. During photosynthesis, evenunder 2.5% O₂, C₄ species have a higher affinity for intercellularCO₂ (Km 1.6 µM) apparently due to the initial carboxylationthrough PEP carboxylase. Under low O₂ the intermediate and C₃species had a similar affinity for intercellular CO₂ duringphotosynthesis (Km 5–7 µM) consistent with carboxylationof atmospheric CO₂ through RuDP carboxylase. There were considerablevariation in photosynthesis/unit leaf area at saturating CO₂levels in the species examined which in part is due to differencesin RuDP carboxylase /unit leaf area. The highest rates of photosynthesis/unitleaf area under CO₂-saturating conditions were with the C₃ specieswhich had a correspondingly high level of RuDP carboxylase/unitleaf area. Possibilities for the greater efficiency of P. hiansand P. milioides in comparison to C₃ species in utilizing lowlevels of CO₂ in the presence of atmospheric O₂ are discussed. ¹ This research was supported by the College of Agriculturaland Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison; and theUniversity of Wisconsin Research Committee with funds from theWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. (Received June 25, 1977; )     

Studies on the phosphomannose isomerase of Amorphophallus konjac C. Koch II. Effect of divalent metal ions on the EDTA-treated enzyme

Konjak phosphomannose isomerase was inactivated in a time-dependentprocess by metal binding agents, and the inactivated enzymewas instantaneously reactivated by adding such metal ions asZn⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺, Fe⁺⁺, Mn⁺⁺ and Cu⁺⁺. However, neither Ca⁺⁺ nor Mg⁺⁺were effective for reactivation. Zn⁺⁺, at a low concentration,brought about complete reactivation of the enzyme at pH 6–7. The EDTA-treated enzyme was more susceptible to heat denaturationwhen compared with the native enzyme, but the addition of variousmetal ions caused the recovery of the thermal stability of theEDTA-treated enzyme. The magnitude of the recovery dependedon the metal ion species and the concentrations. The most effectivemetal ion was Co⁺⁺, which caused the recovery of thermal stabilityto a level higher than that of the native enzyme. Phosphomannoseisomerase was inhibited by pchloromercuribenzoate and HgCl₂;the inhibition by p-chloromercuribenzoate being more pronouncedas incubation progressed. In contrast, the EDTA-treated enzymewas more readily inhibited by the mercurial ion than was thenative enzyme. Zn⁺⁺, when added to the EDTA-treated enzyme,markedly restored its resistance to the mercurial-induced inhibition.The metal-substituted enzyme was also inhibited by EDTA in atime-dependent process. ¹ This paper constitutes part 4 of studies on konjak mannanbiosynthesis. (Received March 3, 1975; )     

Effect of Root Zone Temperature on the Mineral Composition of Xylem Sap and Plasma Membrane K+-Mg++-ATPase Activity of Grafted-Cucumber and -Figleaf Gourd Root Systems

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings were grafted onto cucumber-(CG) or figleaf gourd- (FG, Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché)seedlings in order to determine the effect of solution temperature(12, 22, and 32°C) on the mineral composition of xylem sapand the plasma membrane K⁺-Mg⁺⁺-ATPase activities of the roots.Low solution temperature (12°C) lowered the concentrationof NO^–₃ and H₂PO^–₄ in xylem sap of CG plants butnot of FG plants. Concentrations of K⁺, Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ in xylemsap were less affected than anions by solution temperature.The plasma membrane of FG plants grown in 12°C solutiontemperature showed the highest K⁺- Mg⁺⁺-ATPase activity at allATP concentrations up to 3 mM and at low reaction temperatureup to 12°C, indicating resistance of figleaf gourd to lowroot temperature. (Received December 27, 1994; Accepted March 10, 1995)     

Some properties of shikimate: NADP oxidoreductase produced in sweet potato root tissue after slicing

The activity of shikimate: NADP oxidoreductase [EC 1. 1. 1.25] in sweet potato root tissue increased soon after slicing.Enzyme preparations obtained from both sliced tissue and fromfresh tissue probably contained a single enzyme component, andthey showed identical chromatographical behaviour. K_m values of the enzyme for NADP and shikimate were 1.0x10^–4Mand 1.3 x 10^–3M, respectively. Enzyme activity was potentlyinhibited by SH-inhibitors such as p-chloromercuribenzoate andoxidized glutathione. Enzyme activity was affected neither by mononucleotides suchas ATP, ADP and AMP, divalent cations, Mg⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺ and Mn⁺⁺,nor by metabolites such as tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosineand t-cinnamic acid which are involved in aromatic compoundsyntheses. The enzyme rapidly lost its activity. This inactivation reactionshowed a time course consisting of two steps of the first-orderreaction. The inactivated enzyme preparation was not reactivatedby thiol compounds such as cysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol and glutathione,although these reagents, to a certain extent, protected theenzyme from inactivation. The results suggest that denaturationof the enzyme protein was involved in inactivation of the enzyme. ¹Part 74 of the phytopathological chemistry of sweet potatowith black rot and injury. ²Present address: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science,Tokyo Metropolitan University, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. (Received August 5, 1968; )     

Glycogen biosynthesis in Chromatium strain D II. Purification and properties of glycogen synthetase

Glycogen synthetase, ADP-glucose-a (l4) glucan transglucosylase[E.C. 2.4.1.11 [EC] ] from a purple sulfur bacterium, Chromatium,was purified to a homogeneous state and its enzymic propertieswere studied. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 8.6?10⁴dalton as determined by analytical gel filtration on a columnof Sephadex G-100. Since sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis gave the molecular weight value of 8.4?10⁴to the monomeric form of the enzyme, we concluded that Chromatiumglycogen synthetase is comprised of a single polypeptide chain.The optimal pH of teh transglucosylation reaction was between8.0–8.5. The enzyme molecule utilized only ADP-glucoseas the glucose donor. The k_m value was determined as 3.8?10_-4M by the radioisotopic method of measuring the incorporationof ¹⁴C-glucose into the acceptor glycogen, and 6.1?10^-5M bythe enzyme coupling method. The most effective glucose acceptor(primer) was proved to be a long-chain a (16) branched a (14)polyglucan, e.g. Chromatium and cow glycogen, whereas short-chainmalto-oligosaccharides were much less efficient in the chain-elongationreaction. ¹ Part I of this series is Ref. (9). (Received February 13, 1974; )     

Enzymic mechanism of starch breakdown in germinating rice seeds V. Sucrose phosphate synthetase in the scutellum

Some enzymic Properties of a partially purified preparationof sucrose phosphate synthetase (E.C.2.4.1.14) from germinatingrice seed scutella were studied. Examination of the reactionkinetics revealed that the rate of synthesis of sucrose phosphatefollows the Michaelis-Menten equation at an optimum PH of 7.5,having K_m of 25 mM for UDP-glucose, and of 4.9 mM for fructose6-phosphate. UDP inhibited the enzyme reaction competitively;K₁ of 3.3 mM. Fe⁺⁺ and Fe⁺⁺⁺ activated the enzyme reaction about2-fold; K_a, 0.3 mM and 2.0 mM, respectively. Co⁺⁺, Co(NH₃)₆⁺⁺⁺,Mg⁺⁺ and Mn⁺⁺ also activated the enzyme reaction. At high concentrationK⁺ activated the enzyme reaction with the maximum activationof 24% at 400 mM. The molecular weight and S_20,w value of theenzyme were determined as 4.5 ? 10⁵ and 10.4S, respectively. ¹Part IV of this series is Ref. (5). ²California Foundation for Biochemical Research Fellow (1973). (Received December 20, 1973; )     

Enzymes involved in the last steps of the biosynthesis of mannitol in brown algae

Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.17 [EC] ) and mannitol-1-phosphatase(EC number yet unassigned) were detected in the brown algae,Spatoglossum pacificum and Dictyota dichotoma. The enzymes wereextracted from algal fronds and their properties were investigatedusing partially purified preparations. Mannitol-1-phosphatase shows maximum activity at pH 7. The enzymehad a narrow substrate specificity. The Km value for mannitol-1-phosphateis 8.3x10^–4 M (30°C, pH 7.0). The enzyme is activatedby Mg⁺⁺ and Mn⁺⁺and is strongly inhibited by PCMB, Hg⁺⁺and NaF. Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase showed maximum activitiesat pH values 6.5 and 10.2 in reductive and oxidative reactions,respectively. The dehydrogenase also showed narrow substratespecificity; mannitol-1-phosphate and NAD or fructose-6-phosphateand NADH₂ are utilized, respectively, in oxidative and reductivereactions by the enzyme. Km values for these substrates andthe coenzymes are 2.5x10^–4 M and 7.1x10^–5 M forthe first pair and 2.8x10^–4 M and 1.3x10^–5 M forthe latter pair. This enzyme was strongly inhibited by PCMBand Hg⁺⁺, but was only slightly affected by adenosine phosphates. Possible roles of these enzymes in the biosynthesis of mannitolin brown algae are discussed. ¹ Contributions from the Shimoda Marine Biological Station ofTokyo Kyoiku University, No. 233. This work was supported inpart by a Grant-in-Aid for Co-operative Research from the Ministryof Education, Japan and in part by a grant to one of us (T.Ikawa) from the Matsunaga Science Foundation. ² Present address: Chemical and Physical Laboratory, HoechstJapan Research Laboratory, Minamidai, Kawagoe, Japan. (Received February 22, 1972; )     

Effect of the age of tobacco leaves on photosynthesis and photorespiration

Relationships among the activities of enzymes related to photosynthesisand photorespiration, and ¹⁴CO₂ photosynthetic products wereinvestigated with individual tobacco leaves attached to thestalk from the bottom to the top. P-glycolate phosphatase ofthe chloroplasts and glycolate oxidase of the peroxisomes hadtheir maximum activities in the 25th leaf from the dicotyledons.Maximum photorespiration was similarly distributed. The highestratio of serine-¹⁴C to glycine-¹⁴C in the photosynthesates andmaximum glycolate formation were also observed in the 25th leaf.Glutamateglyoxylate aminotransferase, serine hydroxymethyltransferaseand glycine decarboxylase were more active in the upper leaves.RuDP carboxylase had nearly constant activity in all leaves,except for the youngest in which activity decreased. MaximumCO₂ photosynthesis and enzyme activity for the C₄ dicarboxylicacid cycle occurred in the upper, youngest leaf. Distributionof photosynthetic CO² fixation among the leaves did not coincidewith RuDP carboxylase activity. The photosynthetic capacityappeared to be better related to the distribution pattern forenzymes of the C₄ dicarboxylic acid pathway, i.e. PEP carboxylase,pyruvate Pi dikinase and 3-PGA phosphatase in the upper leaves.The results suggest that the C₄ dicarboxylic acid pathway participates,to some extent, in photosynthesis in young leaves of tobacco,a dicotyledonous plant. ¹This work was reported at the Annual Meeting (1970) of theJapanese Plant Physiologists in Kobe. ²The Central Research Institute, Japan Monopoly Corporation1-28-3, Nishishinagawa, Shinagawaku, Tokyo, 141 Japan. (Received November 2, 1972; )     

Stimulatory Effect of Chloride Ions on NADP Malic Enzyme from Leaves of two C4 Species of Cyperus

NADP malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40 [EC] ) from leaves of two C₄ speciesof Cyperus (C. rotundus and C. brevifolius var leiolepis) exihibiteda low level of activity in an assay mixture that contained lowconcentrations of Cl^–. This low level of activity wasmarkedly enhanced by increases in the concentration of NaClup to 200 mM. Since the activity of NADP malic enzyme was inhibitedby Na₂SO₄ and stimulated by relatively high concentration ofTris-HCl (50–100 mM, pH 7–8), the activation ofthe enzyme by NaCl appears to be due to Cl^–. Variationsin the concentration of Mg²⁺ affected the K_A (the concentrationof activator giving half-maximal activation) for Cl^–,which decreased from 500 mM to 80 mM with increasing concentrationsof Mg²⁺ from 0.5 mM to 7 mM. The K_m for Mg²⁺ was decreased from7.7 mM to 1.3 mM with increases in the concentration of NaClfrom zero to 200 mM, although the increase of V_max was not remarkable.NADP malic enzyme from Cyperus, being similar to that from otherC₄ species, was able to utilize Mn²⁺. The K_m for Mn²⁺ was 5mM, a value similar to that for Mg²⁺. The addition of 91 mMNaCl markedly decreased the K_m for Mn²⁺ to 20 +M. NADP malicenzyme from Setaria glauca, which contains rather less Cl^–than other C₄ species, was inactivated by concentrations ofNaCl above 20 mM, although slight activation of the enzyme wasobserved at low concentrations of NaCl at pH7.6. (Received February 20, 1989; Accepted June 12, 1989)     

Ribulose diphosphate oxygenase. V. Presence in ribulose diphosphate carboxylase from Rhodospirillum rubrum

Ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase was purified fifteenfold from Rhodospirillum rubrum grown autotrophically under H₂ and CO₂. There was RuDP oxygenase activity associated with the carboxylase. The oxygenase had maximal activity at pH 9.4. Although these bacterial RuDP oxygenase and carboxylase activities were cold labile, activity could not be restored by treatment at 50° in the presence of Mg⁺⁺ and a sulfhydryl reagent, in contrast to results with the enzyme from eukaryotes.     

Developmental and Varietal Comparisons of Pod Carboxylase Levels in Pisum sativum L.

The activities of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase andribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate (RuDP) carboxylase have been determinedin the developing pod walls of six genotypes of Pisum sativum.Genotypes were chosen which varied in pod characters such aschlorophyll content and tissue morphology, which it was hopedwould be associated with variation in carboxylase levels. Whilst both enzymes were detected in all genotypes, the levelsof activity varied considerably with pod type and with age.In general RuDP carboxylase activity correlated with chlorophyllconcentration, and yellow podded types had considerably lessactivity than green types. The yellow podded genotypes, however,contained significantly higher levels of PEP carboxylase which,in terms of total carboxylase activity, compensated for thelower RuDP carboxylase levels. The activities of both enzymes were determined within the endocarpand within the mesocarp plus exocarp, using 16-day-old pods.All genotypes showed an enrichment for PEP carboxylase in theendocarp and all but one genotype showed a similar enrichmentfor RuDP carboxylase activity in this layer. The role of the carboxylase enzymes within the pod wall is discussedand it is suggested that their main function may be to maintainan appropriate level of CO₂ within the pod cavity as well asrecycling carbon to the developing seeds. Pisum savitum L., pea, pods, carboxylase levels, genetic variation     

Induced formation of ribulose 1,5-diphosphate carboxylase in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides with particular concern to its relation with chromatophore formation

A comparative study was made on features of the induced synthesisof RuDP carboxylase in three strains of R. spheroides with differentbiochemical properties. In strains Sb and Sa, which were able to grow under either light-anaerobicor dark-aerobic conditions, activities of RuDP carboxylase inthe light-grown cells were much higher than those in dark-growncells. The level of RuDP carboxylase activity in dark-growncells of the Sb strain (wild type strain) increased two to threetimes in the dark by incubating the heavy cell suspension underlow aeration, but, for a further increase in enzyme activity,a light-anaerobic condition was required. This is in contrastto the induced formation of bacteriochlorophyll which has beenshown to proceed actively in the dark as well as in the light.On the other hand, with dark-grown cells of the Sa strain, whichhad possible partial defects in the chlorophyll synthesis system,the induced synthesis of RuDP carboxylase under the light-anaerobiccondition was markedly retarded as compared to that with theSb strain. RuDP carboxylase formation was not induced in L-57(a colorless mutant) under any of these conditions. The induced formation of RuDP carboxylase, as well as of bacteriochlorophyll,under the light-anaerobic condition was considerably suppressedby hydroxyurea and mitomycin C. This suggests that the geneticcontrol systems of RuDP carboxylase synthesis may be closelyrelated with those for the formation of the photosynthetic apparatus. ¹This work was supported in part by Public Health Research GrantAM 08016 from the National Institute of Arthritis and MetabolicDiseases, U.S.A. (G. K.). ²Present address: Laboratory of Radioisotope Experiment, TohokuUniversity School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. (Received September 6, 1968; )     

Studies on NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase from maturing castor bean seeds

NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase from the soluble fractionof maturing castor bean endosperm was partially purified (approximately180-fold) and some of its enzymatic properties were studied.Mg⁺⁺, Mn⁺⁺, Cd⁺⁺, Ba⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺, Zn⁺⁺, and Sr⁺⁺ were activatorsof the enzyme reaction at a concentration of 6.7x10 M. The optimumpH of this enzyme was about 8.5. The enzyme was stable in thenarrow range from pH 7.0 to pH 8.0. Km values for isocitrateand NADP at pH 8.5 were 3.5x10^–6 M and 3.6x10^–6M, respectively. Enzyme stability was not affected by NaCl concentrationand enzyme reaction was inhibited at 5x10^–6 M PCMB (80%inhibition). It is suggested that the condensation product ofglyoxylate and oxalacetate also inhibits the reaction. NADP-IDHin the crude extract from maturing castor bean endosperm washeat-stable but the dialyzed enzyme preparation and the partiallypurified enzyme were labile against heat treatment at 57°C.When Mg⁺⁺ was added to the partially purified enzyme in thepresence of isocitrate or NADP, the enzyme was stabilized againstheat treatment. Mn⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺, Sr⁺⁺ or Ba⁺⁺ could be substitutedfor Mg⁺⁺. Addition of only one of the factors, Mg⁺⁺, isocitrateor NADP, had no effect on the heat stability. Moreover, a combinationof isocitrate and NADP did not establish stabilization. A divalentcation plays a central role, while adenine nucleotide, especiallyATP, may have an important part in stabilization. (Received August 14, 1972; )     

Activation of Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase Purified from Wheat Leaves

A stable freeze-dried powder was prepared of partly purifiedribulose bisphosphate carboxylase from wheat leaves. As withpreparations from other leaves it is necessary to incubate theenzyme with Mg^2$ and CO₂ to achieve maximum activity. At 25°C this activity was 0.75 IU mg^–1 protein for a preparationactivated at 50 °C for 10 min; the K_m for CO₂ was 15 µM. The time for reactivation of enzyme that had been inactivatedthrough the absence of CO₂ and Mg^2$ was influenced by the lengthof the inactivating treatment. After a short inactivation periodthe enzyme was reactivated within a few minutes, whereas aftera longer period several hours were needed. Enzyme in the latterstate had some properties in common with enzyme inactivatedby lower temperatures but in the presence of CO₂ and Mg^2$. Theenzyme kinetic characteristics are similarly affected by bothkinds of inactivation; the maximum velocity is decreased butthe affinity for CO₂ is not affected. Reactivation following a long inactivating treatment becomesmore dependent on Mg^2$ concentration as the temperature is increasedfrom 0 to 20 °C.     

A comparative study on the effect of O2 on photosynthetic carbon metabolism by Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum and Chromatium vinosum

The reductive carboxylic acid cycle appears to be the majorcarbon assimilation pathway in green sulfur bacteria, Chlorobiumthiosulfatophilum. While cyanide was relatively ineffectivein inhibiting the bacterial photosynthetic CO₂ fixation, photosynthesiswas strongly impaired in an O₂-containing atmospheric environment.No glycolate formation was detected in Chlorobium under an O₂atmosphere. In the purple sulfur bacteria, Chromatium vinosum,however, photosynthesis was highly sensitive to cyanide, andin a short-term incubation (up to 10 min) photosynthetic CO₂fixation was found to be relatively indifferent to an O₂-containingatmosphere of up to 100% O₂. Significant formation of glycolatewas demonstrated upon a very brief exposure to O₂, whereas thetotal photosynthetic CO₂ fixation was slightly affected. However,ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity in Chromatiumextract was competitively inhibited by O₂ in a similar mannerto the higher plant enzyme, K¹(O₂) value being 0.7 mM at pH8.2. The percentage of incorporation of ¹⁴CO₂ into glycolateand glycine under an O₂-containing atmosphere declined withincreasing levels of bicarbonate concentrations in the medium.The Warburg effect and biosynthetic mechanisms involving glycolatein photosynthetic bacteria are discussed. ¹ This is paper XXXIX in the series "Structure and Functionof Chloroplast Proteins". Paper XXXVIII is reference (6) Asamiand Akazawa (1977). This research was supported in part by grantsfrom the Ministry of Education of Japan (111912), the TorayScience Foundation (Tokyo), and the Japan Securities ScholarshipFoundation (Tokyo). (Received January 28, 1977; )     

Characterization of membrane-bound Mg++-activated ATPase isolated from the lower epidermis of tobacco leaves

Membrane-bound Mg⁺⁺-activated ATPase was separated from thelower epidermis of tobacco leaves (Nicotiand tabacum L. SamsunNN) on stepwise sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Membrane-bound epidermal ATPase was localized in the interfaceof densities in sucrose of 1.12 to 1.16 in the sedimentary fractionbetween 1,500?g to 10,000?g from the homogenate of the lowerepidermis. The epidermal ATPase activity was activated by divalentcations (Mg⁺⁺>Mn⁺⁺Co⁺⁺>Fe⁺⁺>Zn⁺⁺>Ca⁺⁺) and furtherstimulated by KCl by ca. 20%. The pH optimum for Mg⁺⁺-activationof the epidermal ATPase was ca. 6.0. The enzyme hydrolyzed ATPmore rapidly than other nucleoside triphosphates. The optimumtemperature for activation of the epidermal ATPase activitywas ca. 40?C. 50% of the epidermal ATPase activity was lostin 18 min at 55?C and in 2.5 days at 2.5?C. The apparent Kmvalue of the epidermal ATPase was 4.7?10^–4 M and Vmaxwas 65.4 nmoles Pi/mg protein/min. The epidermal ATPase wasstrongly inhibited by N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)in vitro whereas oligomycin, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone(CCGP), indoleacetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) wereinsensitive to the epidermal ATPase activity. (Received May 23, 1978; )